Ha Long Bay: 5-Star Iris Day Cruise with Fine Dining, Live Band & Jacuzzi

Honestly, this was one of the best experiences of my Vietnam trip! Ha Long Bay is absolutely beautiful, but what made the whole experience even better was the hospitality of the crew and how well everything was organised. One thing I really want to mention is the support I received even before the cruise. I was in touch with the team on WhatsApp three days before my trip, and they were always quick to respond and help me with my queries. It might seem like a small thing, but when you're travelling in another country, having someone who responds promptly and makes sure everything is taken care of gives you so much peace of mind. The entire crew onboard was equally wonderful. Everyone was so welcoming, friendly and attentive throughout the journey. You never felt like you were being left on your own, and the team really made an effort to ensure everyone was comfortable and enjoying themselves. I had opted for the Indian vegetarian set lunch, and I'm so glad I did! The food was genuinely delicious, and it was lovely to have a proper Indian vegetarian meal while travelling in Vietnam. And the views, of course, were incredible! Spending time on the sundeck, watching the limestone mountains pass by, exploring Sung Sot Cave and visiting Ti Top Island made the day really special. The jacuzzi and live music were lovely additions too, making it a nice mix of sightseeing and relaxation. What I liked most was that everything felt well taken care of, right from the communication before the trip to the experience onboard. It's not just about having a beautiful cruise, it's also about the people who make the experience memorable, and this team definitely deserves credit for that. If you're visiting Vietnam and planning a trip to Ha Long Bay, I'd definitely recommend this cruise. Great views, delicious food, a lovely atmosphere and a genuinely helpful crew. I came away very happy with the experience! Thank you to the entire team for making it such a wonderful day. Definitely 5 stars from me! ❤️

It was a great cruise!! The food was superb. On the day of our tour, Iris Cruise was undergoing some maintainance so we were upgraded to 6-star Dolphin Cruise at no extra cost. The hospitality, pickup service and the tour in the caves etc were well organised. We didnt fave a single bit of difficulty. One pro tip, plastic bottles are not allowed on the cruise. So bring your own water in metal or glass bottles if possible as drinking water is not free in the cruise apart from the lunch time. Although they provide free water bottles in the pickup van, but those bottles are also not allowed in the cruise. I would also suggest to choose bamboo boat instead of kayak as that looked unsafe. The bamboo boats can't slow down if kayaks were on the path. I saw few kayak getting scratched by bamboo boats. Would not drown ofc, but might be a unpleasant day if you are not experienced in kayaking. Sharing the full day's itinerary in the images.

PROS The cruise was beautiful, the weather was a little warm. CONS the indian food wasn't that good. the restaurant had immense stench of the non veg food, almost unbearable to my jain companions. the route was very overcrowded - all the points had too many people into it. And MOST IMPORTANTLY the drinking water on the cruise after lunch is paid, which is absolutely ridiculous. Overall the cruise itself was pretty but the experience was tiring.

Dining was amazing, the staff was very welcoming and attentive, the food variety and quality and the settings deserve big compliments. Enjoyed the jacuzzi as I stayed on boat, enjoyed the view from all angles. The big gift came from singer Long who invited me to play and sing on stage two songs: one for Vietnam and Halong bay with Iris cruiser, second one about peace in the world. I will never forget, (boat on the water...)